The Cost of Education

There's an old saying out there that goes something like this: "If you think education is expensive, consider the cost of ignorance."

While I think this is a witty and poignant quote, it was revealed to me today just exactly what may be the cost of education. Beside of all the student loans, books, homework, and time spent working on education, I believe I've found something that's a little less tangible when it comes to the cost of education- reputation.

In my classes this week, the topic is university leadership; specifically, the university president. Our professor handed out a rather interesting article that just points to how much a reputation can cost. Featured in a 2005 issue of The Chronicle for Higher Education, I read how former president of Harvard University, Lawrence H. Summers made a somewhat generalized comment about women in the field of mathematics and science at a scholarly meeting. He suggested that this situation may be the cause of innate differences of ability from men. Upon hearing this, some women of the conference walked out.

Here, we have the president of a prestigious (not to mention, America's first) institution who makes a shrewd comment at a scholarly meeting. Later in 2006, because of this comment, President Summers steps down as president of Harvard University.

So, what does this mean? What does this imply? Because he is the head of a highly acclaimed university, does it mean that the rest of the University thinks the same? I think one can certainly take it that way. I'm certain in the fact that what took years of a reputation to build up, in approximately 3 seconds, Dr. Summers destroyed. Easy as that.

Opinions mean everything. The thing is, everybody has one. However, the difference between a person and an educated person is that the educated person can back up what they say with tangible proof. If you can support your reasoning with solid and valid research it's good.

Watch what you say, and what you do say, be able to back it up. It could cost you everything.